Edwaed o



(Nd Model.)-

. B. O. O. 0RD.

CARTRIDGE BOX.

BIO/299,573. Patented June 3, 1884..

lwjEssas EDWARD O. O. 0RD, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

CARTRIDGE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 299,573fclated June 3, 1884.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. O. 0RD, a lieutenant in the United States Army, Company B, Twentysecond Infantry, stationed at present at Fort Leavenworth, county of Leavenworth, in the State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GartridgeBoxes, of which the following is a specification.

I have devised a box adapted to carry ordinary metallic cartridges for small-arms in one or more tiers, with the front of each tier sufficiently open to allow the introduction of one or more fingers to lift the uppermost, or so many cartridges as may-be desired. I provide holding-down devices, which are conveniently locked by friction at any height inthe several tiers. The whole is adapted for attachment to a belt in the most convenient position for extracting the cartridges. In my cartridgebox the cartridges lie' horizontally, resting each upon the next in the several tiers. In what I esteem the most complete form of the invention there are four tiers. All are covered and protected from weather by a single flap, with a button or other convenient fastening for securing it. My device offers great facility for the convenient removal of the cartridges with the rapidity required for modern arms. The ordinary means of transporting cartridges, each tucked singly in a recess in the belt, distributes the weight very uniformly; but it is open to serious objection from the difficulty often met with in removing the cartridges for use. In the rapid working either of single-loading or magazine guns, at large portion of the advantages properly due to the extraordinary rapidity of firing in emergencies is lost in consequence of the difficulty, and sometimes impossibility, of bringing the cartridges to the piece with sufficient rapidity.-.. Whether in a standing, kneeling, or reclining position, in exposed situations or sheltered, it is practically impossible to get the cartridges fast enough in repelling a charge. My improved means for carrying the cartridges may be made singly and slipped around on the belt, so as to distribute the weight of the several tiers; but I prefer for general purposes to concentrate the mass in a single box.

This box may be shifted to various positions on the belt to ease the wearer in long marches. The ordinary cross-straps or a special strap may aid in supporting the weight.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is ageneral perspective view showing the cartridge-box closed, with a portion of the supporting-belt attached in position. Fig. I

outside. Fig. 7 shows one of the holding devices detached. Fig. Sis an edge view of a modification.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the figures, M is a rigid casing of tinned sheet metal or other suitable material, certain parts beingdesignated,when nec essary, by additional marks, as 1V M M is a vertical partition extending from front to back.

M M are partial partitions extending longitudinally of the box. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that the spaces or pockets at are each just sufficient to contain a tier of cartridges lying one upon another. The vertical openingstor slits in the front and in the longitudinal partition M are marked m". These slits are sufficiently wide to allow the insertion of the finger at any point to pull up one or more of the cartridges. A loop, A, on the back face'of the'cartridge-box receives a belt, 13, which is adapted to extend around the person of the wearer, and is provided with any ordinary or suitable fastening.

For the cartridges which may only partially fill any of the several pockets m, I provide a holding-down device, which can be adjusted at any height. Each holding-down device is formed of two equal parts, G, connected by a hinge, g, arranged at or near the mid-depth. Above the hinge on each part is a shoulder, G, which, when the device is in use, abuts against a corresponding shoulder on the opposite part, and renders the device incapable of bending much in one direction. On the lower side the material is cut away, as indicated by G G forming recesses,which receive a spiral spring, II, which exerts an expansive or distending force. A string, I, is attached near the joint 9, and connects to the rim of the box, so that it will allow the device to be set at any depth in the adjacent pocket at, or to hang or lie idly either on the outside or inside of the box.

J' is a cover, of sheet-iron or other suitable material, connected to the back edge of the top by a hinge, j, and subject to the force of a coiled spring, K, tending to keep it closed. A face-piecc, D, is connected to the lower edge of the front by a hinge, d. A flap, 0, covers the entire box, and is secured to the face-piece D by a fastening. E, of any ordinary or suitable charaeter. The exterior of the entire box may be covered with leather, canvas, or other suitable protection attached by gluing or otherwise.

Operation To supply the cartridges, the fastening E is detached and the flap C, and also the spring-cover J, raised into the vertical position. This exposes the tops of the several pockets in, and each is filled in succession quite to the top. If the cartridges are, as usual, formed each with a projecting rim, they should be arranged alternately heads and points, so that all will rest fairly one upon another and lie level, as will be understood. The covers J and C may then be shut down and the fastening E secured. When it is desired to use the cartridges, the fastening E is detached, allowing the flap C to be easily lifted. N ow the front face, D, may be thrown down, turning on its hinge d, and the operator inserts one of his fingers in one of the front slits, m", and lifts one or more of the cartridges out of the box, the spring-cover J yielding readily to allow such movement, and closing promptly thereafter to retain the remainder. This operation may be repeated until all the cartridges are removed, not only from the front pockets, but also from the back pockets. The spring cover holds the cartridges against escaping from the top of the box, even when the user is lying down; but when any considerable movements are to be made with one of the pockets only partially filled with cartridges, it is important to be able to hold them down firmly, especially if the user is obliged to creep, walk, or run. He inserts the holding-down device, causing the hinge to be deflected downward a little. In this position it is forced downin any given pocket until its center bears gently upon the uppermost cartridge, and engages itself by the friction of its soft ends bracing against the interior of the pocket, so as to effectually rcsist any ordinary disturbing force. \Vhen he requires to detach it, he pulls the string I, which causes the joint at the center to spring up past the straight line, and draws the ends slightly together, .as indicated slightly exaggerated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, when it no longer braces itself in the pocket, and the device is easily and instantly removed.

The modification shown in Fig. 8 is a thinner cartridge-box, having no back tiers. This has a spring-hook for means of attaching to the belt. Further modifications maybe made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. The material of the box may be varied. Instead of the loop through which the belt is rove, I can employ a spring-clip or a simple hook, with or without means for locking it. I can use three or more of the holding-down devices, or one alone may serve. The ends of the spiral spring H may be recessed into the parts G, instead of being held by slight projections from the parts G, engaging in the interior of the ends of the spiral, as shown.

Parts of the invention maybe used without the whole. I prefer the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

I claim as my invention- 1. The cartridge-box M, having one or more pockets, at, with a narrower slit, m extend ing up and down the front of each, adapted to allow cartridges to lie in tiers and be removed, as shown, in combination with means, A, for attachment to a belt, and arranged to serve as herein specified.

2. In a cartridge-box of the construction herein shown, the arrangement of two or more pockets, m, side by side, each with a slit, m in its front, in combination with a singlefiap, 0, covering the whole, adapted to allow the cartridges to be removed from one or more of the several tiers singly or in quantities, as specified.

3. In a cartridge-box, a holding-down device composed of two parts, G and G, with the hinge 1 and spring H, combined and arranged to serve as herein specified.

4. The cartridge-box M, having a pocket, m and vertical slit m, in combination with a holding-down device, G G, and a flexible attachment, I, arranged to serve the double function of displacing the holder and keeping it attached to the box, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, Jew York, this 15th day of March, 1884, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

E. O. (F. 0RD.

Witnesses:

XV. G. DEY, CHARLES It. SninLn.

ITO 

